Pill dispenser with interchangeable platen having electronically readable/writable identification

ABSTRACT

A device for dispensing pills includes a set of pill canisters and a control for releasing a desired quantity of pills from a selected pill canister at a target location. Several platens are provided; each of the platens has a platen identifier. A frame is situated beneath the target location. The frame is controlled to move in both an X axis and/or a Y axis and the frame holds a selected platen of a set of platens. The selected platen holds and supports a target container into which the desired quantity of pills is deposited. The platen identifier is read by the device for dispensing pills to determine which of the plurality of platens is in the frame.

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application titled,“METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY FILLING PRESCRIPTIONS USINGINTERCHANGEABLE PLATENS,” Ser. No. 12/163,615, filed Jun. 27, 2008 andinventor Norman D. Knoth.

This application is related to U.S. application titled, “METHOD ANDAPPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY FILLING PRESCRIPTIONS USING INTERCHANGEABLEPLATENS,” now U.S. Pat. No. 7,908,827. Additionally, this application isrelated to U.S. application titled, “LOW-PROFILE X-Y TABLE,” now U.S.Pat. No. 7,883,077. Additionally, this application is related to U.S.application titled, “PILL DISPENSER WITH CANISTERS HAVING ELECTRONICALLYREADABLE IDENTIFICATION,” Ser. No. 12/163,653 filed Jun. 27, 2008 andinventor Norman D. Knoth; attorney docket number 2108.7.

This application is related to U.S. Pat. No. 7,225,597 titled “MACHINETO AUTOMATE DISPENSING OF PILLS,” U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/317,538, titled “CASSETTE FOR DISPENSING PILLS,” and U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/683,871, titled “METHOD OF DISPENSING PILLS FROMA MOVABLE PLATEN”, all of which are incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field

The present invention relates to the field of dispensing medicine andmore particularly to an apparatus that automatically fills vials andblister packs with medicine in the form of pills, capsules, gel-caps andthe like.

2. Background

The dispensing of medicine in the form of pills, capsules, gel-caps, andthe like is performed in many ways and in many locations includingpharmacies, packaging plants and hospitals. Pharmacies or drug storesemploy Pharmacists to fill prescriptions with the prescribed amount of aprescribed medicine or dose. The Pharmacist fills the prescription froma bulk package of medicine into a delivery package sized for theconsumer. Although Pharmacists are very careful to dispense the correctquantity of the correct medicine, ever too often, the wrong quantity isdispensed, or worse yet, the wrong medicine is dispensed.

The medicine is often delivered to the consumer in a package that is acontainer with a lid, for example, a vial or bottle. After counting theprescribed amount of medicine, the Pharmacist funnels the pills into thecontainer, attaches the lid and places a label on the containerindicating what medicine is stored inside and information related to themedicine. Again, the transfer of pills into the container createsanother opportunity for one or more pills to be lost, thereby notproviding the proper amount to the consumer.

With some consumers, it may be difficult to remember which pill to take,when to take it, and even whether they have already taken the pill. Toovercome this problem, an array pack was devised with a series ofcompartment resembling cups or blisters, each “blister” containing oneor more pills that are to be taken at the same time. This form ofpackaging is known as “blister packs,” “dose packs,” “bingo cards,” and“punch cards.” Often, cold medicine is supplied to consumers on such acard with a single dose in each blister and then the blister pack ispackaged in a simple box with labels and advertising on the outside.Although a huge benefit to the consumer, filling the blister pack with aprescription involves the Pharmacist sitting down and laboriouslydispensing the doses by hand into the individual blisters of the pack,then sealing the back. Furthermore, for prescriptions in which thedosage varies by day, extra attention to detail is required because eachblister may have different quantities of pills or pills of a differentstrength or a combination of such, again feeding into the probability oferror.

Presently, automation equipment is available for automatically fillingprescriptions from a plurality of pill storage bins (or canisters). Eachstorage bin is filled with a supply of a given medicine in pill, capsuleor gel-cap form. The storage bin has an electro-mechanical dispensingcontrol and the dispensing control is controlled by a machine controlthat has, for example, a user interface for the Pharmacist to enter themedicine name, strength and quantity, thereby initiating the dispensingof that number of pills. The pills are then directed into a vial.

The art of filling containers with pills is quite old, going back toU.S. Pat. No. 2,457,220 to Fowler, et al issued Dec. 28, 1948; which ishereby incorporated by reference and describes a motorized pilldispensing machine. This machine has one storage area for a supply ofpills that are thereafter handled by the machine in groups of a knownquantity. As the machine rotates, the pills fall into receptaclesnumbering that known quantity, then as it further rotates, that numberof pills falls through an opening, into a funnel and then into a pillcontainer in the shape of a bottle or vial. This device is limited todispensing a fixed quantity of a single type of pills into bottles.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,318,051 B1 to Preiss, issued Nov. 20, 2001; which ishereby incorporated by reference describes a device for dispatchingsingular items from a single supply station into product packs (blisterpacks) of the same type and is useful in an assembly line process offilling blister packs with a single medication. This device is limitedto dispensing a single type of pill into a single type of blister pack.Likewise, U.S. Pat. No. 6,805,259 B2 to Stevens, et al, issued Oct. 19,2004; hereby incorporated by reference, also describes a tabletdispenser that dispenses tablets from multiple reservoirs into blisterpacks. Although not limited to one medication as the previous patents,this device is limited to dispensing only into blister packs.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,925,774 B2 to Peterson, issued Aug. 9, 2005 is herebyincorporated by reference. It describes a machine a machine for fillingblister package cavities. This device does not fill vials and to do so,a pharmacy would need to purchase a second machine.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,006,894 to de la Huerge, issued Feb. 28, 2006 is herebyincorporated by reference. This patent describes a device for filling amedication cassette which is then provided to a patient in a hospitalsetting. The disclosed device does not fill vials and/or blister packsfrom a plurality of canisters.

Unfortunately, the prior art does not provide the flexibility ofinterchangeable platens wherein multiple platens are provided for asingle dispensing device and each platen has a identifier used by thedispensing device to determine the configuration of an installed platen.

What is needed is a method and apparatus that will accurately fill aprescription from a plurality of canisters into a target package whereinthe target package is held by a platen or a plurality of platens, eachplaten adapted to easily install into the apparatus and each platenhaving a and writable embedded device.

SUMMARY

An objective of the invention is to provide an apparatus for dispensingpills, the apparatus having a plurality of interchangeable platens, eachplaten adapted to hold either a vial or any one of a plurality ofblister package types. Each platen has a writable platen identifier.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide an apparatusfor dispensing pills, the apparatus having at least two platens, a firstof the at least two platens adapted to hold a vial and a second of theat least two platens adapted to hold a particular blister pack, whereasthe at least two platens are installable into the apparatus without theuse of tools.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide an apparatusfor dispensing pills, the apparatus having at least two platens and eachplaten having a platen identifier.

In one embodiment, a device for dispensing pills is disclosed includinga set of pill canisters each containing pills. The device for dispensingpills has a plurality of platens, each of the platens beingsubstantially planar and each having a platen identifier. Each of theplatens has pill locations corresponding to one of more specificpackaging configurations. There is a selected platen from the pluralityof platens that removably holds and supports a target container. Thedevice for dispensing pills has a frame that is situated beneath thetarget location. The selected platen is removably and interchangeablyheld in the frame and the selected platen moves in both an X axis and/ora Y axis responsive to movement of the frame in both the X axis and/orthe Y axis. The device for dispensing pills has a device forcommunicating with the platen identifier and a control that accesses thedevice for communicating with the platen identifier and obtains datafrom the platen identifier. The control moves the selected platen in theX axis and/or the Y axis responsive to the data and releases a desiredquantity of the pills at a target location into the a target packagethat is held by the selected platen.

In another embodiment, a method for dispensing pills is disclosedincluding providing a device for dispensing pills having a plurality ofpill canisters. Each of the pill canisters contains pills. The devicefor dispensing pills has a plurality of platens. Each of the platens issubstantially planar and has a platen identifier. Each of the platenshas pill locations corresponding to one of more specific packagingconfigurations. The device for dispensing pills includes a framesituated beneath the target location. Any of the platens is removablyand interchangeably held in the frame and the frame moves in both an Xaxis and/or a Y axis responsive to a control. A device for communicatingwith the platen identifier is interfaced to the control. The methodincludes a first target package to be filled and a first platen from theplurality of platens is selected and the first target package is placedinto the first platen. The first platen is configured to hold andsupport the first target package. The first platen is inserted into theframe and the control reads data from the platen identifier and uses thedata to move the frame and first platen in the x-axis and/or the y-axisand dispense pills into the first target package in x-axis and y-axislocations as determined by the data. After the pills are dispensed, thefirst platen is removed from the frame and the first target package isremoved from the first platen. Now a second target package is to befilled and a second platen from the plurality of platens is selected andthe second target package is placed into the second platen. The secondplaten is configured to hold and support the second target package. Thesecond platen is inserted into the frame and the control reads data fromthe platen identifier and uses the data to move the frame and secondplaten in the x-axis and/or the y-axis and dispense pills into thesecond target package in x-axis and/or y-axis locations as determined bythe data. After the pills are dispensed, the second platen is removedfrom the frame and the second target package is removed from the secondplaten.

In another embodiment, a device for dispensing pills is disclosed. Thedevice has a plurality of pill canisters, each containing a quantity ofpills and a controller. The device also has a way to select a sourcepill canister from the plurality of pill canisters by direction of thecontroller and a way to release a desired quantity of the pills from thesource pill canister also by direction of the controller. The desiredquantity of pills is released at a target location. The device has aplurality of platens, each having a platen identification. An activeplaten that is selected from the plurality of platens is held in a frameand the frame moves the active platen in both an X axis and/or a Y axisby direction of the controller, positioning the active platen beneaththe target location. The active platen is removably held by the frame. Adevice for interfacing with the platen identification is communicativelyconnected to the controller.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill inthe art by reference to the following detailed description whenconsidered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a plan view of a pill dispensing machine.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of an individual pill dispensingdevice.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a first exemplary platen forholding a particular type of blister package.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a second exemplary platen forholding a particular type of blister package.

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of a third exemplary platen forholding a vial package of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of a pill dispensing device withthe first platen installed beneath the active dispensing canister.

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of a pill dispensing device with afourth platen installed beneath the active dispensing canister, showing10 canisters adapted to a carousel.

FIG. 8A illustrates a plan view of an X-Y transport.

FIG. 8B illustrates a plan view of a second positioning of the X-Ytransport.

FIG. 9 illustrates a side cross-sectional view of the X-Y transport.

FIG. 10 illustrates a canister loading station.

FIG. 11 illustrates a block diagram of the dispensing station.

FIG. 12 illustrates a controller of the dispensing station.

FIG. 13 illustrates a flow chart of the dispensing station.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferredembodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description,the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures.Throughout the description (including the claims), the word “pill” isused generically. For the purpose of this application, the word pill isused to represent anything that can be dispensed by the device of thepresent invention and there is no limitation placed upon that which isdispensed. For example, tablets, capsules, caplets and gel-caps can bedispensed as well as coated candy (e.g., placebos). The presentinvention works well with most any solid object and can be scaled towork for much larger objects as well. Throughout the description(including the claims) the forms of packaging are referred to as vialsor blister packs. For the purpose of this application, the word vial isused to represent any container having a single compartment for storingpills including, but not limited to, vials, bottles, tubes and the like.Often, these vials are configured to accept a lid that either snaps inplace or screws in place. Blister packs refer to a class of packagingthat has multiple compartments, wherein each compartment optionally (itis possible for some compartments to be empty) stores a dose of one ormore pills, either the same pills or different pills. Other names forblister packs are, for example, dose packs, bingo cards and punch cards.The individual blisters of the blister pack can be arranged in anyfashion, such as a linear series of blisters and a matrix of blistersand may be evenly spaced or not. Often, blister packs are sealed by athin sheet that adheres to their open side, allowing one blister at atime to be pierced to gain access to the pills within that blister.

Throughout this description, the term canister refers to a dispenser orcanister for a single pill type. The canister has a storage compartmentfor the pills and a mechanism for dispensing an accurate count of thepills. Canisters are sometimes referred to in the industry as cassettesor other names.

Referring to FIG. 1, a plan view of a pill dispensing machine of thepresent invention is shown. The pill dispensing machine 10 has a controlstation 12 and three dispensing stations 20, although any number ofdispensing stations is anticipated. The control station 12 has a display14 and input device/controls 16. In some embodiments, the controlstation 12 has a bar code scanner 18. In such embodiments, the request(e.g., pill type and desired quantity) is scanned from a label on thetarget package.

Each dispensing station 20 is shown with a removable platen 40 installedinto which a vial or blister pack is inserted for the automateddispensing of pills. Visible through a window are a plurality of pillcanisters 30, each pill canister 30 containing a plurality of pills of aparticular type. The pill canisters 30 are adapted to a carousel orother selection device (e.g., robotic arm, linear row of canisters,etc). In the shown embodiment, a number of canisters 30 are adapted to acarousel (not visible). Since there are multiple dispensing stations 20,each dispensing station has an indicator 22 and a lock 24. The lock 24reduces the threat of unauthorized access to pills held in thecanisters. The indicator 22 informs the operator which of the dispensingstations will be used to fill a prescription. As an example, theoperator (e.g., pharmacist) enters the request (e.g., prescriptioninformation) at the control station 12 either by data entry or byscanning a bar code or similar identifier. Once the control station 12determines which canister holds the pill type required for theprescription, the indicator 22 illuminates on the dispensing station 20having the correct pill type telling the operator where to place thetarget package (e.g., blister pack or vial) for filling theprescription. In some embodiments, the dispensing stations 20 aresupported by a cabinet 25 or other support structure as known in theindustry.

Referring to FIG. 2, a perspective view of an individual pill dispensingstation 20 of the present invention is shown with its door 21 open. Thedispensing station 20 is shown with a door 21 in the open positionshowing the canisters 30. The lock 24 is partially visible as well asthe indicator 22. One particular platen 40 for dispensing pills into aparticular blister pack (not shown) is shown installed in the dispensingstation 20. Before dispensing pills, the platen 40 is inserted into aframe 250 (see FIGS. 8A, 8B, 9) of the dispensing station 20. Although aparticular platen 40 is shown, many configurations of platens 40/44/48,etc., are anticipated. Of the various individual platens 40/44/48, eachplaten is adapted to hold and support one or more particular blisterpacks or one or more vials (bottles, etc).

Referring to FIG. 3, a perspective view of a first exemplary platen forholding a particular type of blister package of the present invention isshown. This particular platen 40 is configured to hold one or morespecific blister packs having a certain number of blisters of one ormore blister sizes. For example, the platen 40 shown has cavities 42 foraccepting the blisters of several different blister packs. The platen 40supports blister packs having a similar spacing and sizing of blistershaving a configuration up to 5×9 blisters. For example, one such blisterpack has 1×7 blisters while another such blister pack has 5×8 blisters,etc. If the blisters of a certain blister pack are not spaced similar tothe platen 40 or the blisters are too big to fit within the cavities 42,another platen is needed to support that particular blister pack.

Also visible in FIG. 3 is an identification device 60. Theidentification device 60 is read by the dispensing station 20 when theplaten 40 is inserted into the dispensing station 20 (as will be shownin subsequent figures). In some embodiments, the identification device60 is an RFID (radio frequency identification device) 60 and thedispensing station 20 includes electronics to read the value/data storedin the RFID 60. In some embodiments, the identification device 60 is abar code 60 and the dispensing station 20 includes a scanner to read thebar code 60 when the platen 40 with the bar code is inserted into thedispensing station 20. In some embodiments, the identification device 60is a magnetic stripe 60 (e.g., as used on credit cards) and thedispensing station 20 includes electronics to read the value/data storedin the magnetic stripe 60. In other embodiments, any other knownidentification device and sensing device known is included here within.

Referring to FIG. 4, a perspective view of a second exemplary platen forholding a particular type or class of blister packages of the presentinvention is shown. This particular platen 44 is configured to hold oneor more specific blister packs having a certain outer dimension. Forexample, the platen 44 shown has a rectangular opening 46 for holdingand supporting blister packs having a rectangular outer shape of asimilar size (height/width). It is anticipated that the opening 46 is ofany shape needed to match a particular blister pack such as rectangular,square, round, etc.

Also visible in FIG. 4 is an identification device 60. Theidentification device 60 is read by the dispensing station 20 when theplaten 40 is inserted into the dispensing station 20 (as will be shownin subsequent figures). In some embodiments, the identification device60 is an RFID (radio frequency identification device) 60 and thedispensing station 20 includes electronics to read the value/data storedin the RFID 60. In some embodiments, the identification device 60 is abar code 60 and the dispensing station 20 includes a scanner to read thebar code 60 when the platen 40 with the bar code is inserted into thedispensing station 20. In some embodiments, the identification device 60is a magnetic stripe 60 (e.g., as used on credit cards) and thedispensing station 20 includes electronics to read the value/data storedin the magnetic stripe 60. In other embodiments, any other knownidentification device and sensing device known is included here within.As described in FIG. 8A, in some embodiments, the identification device60 is also writable, for example an RFID with writable memory. Althoughthere are many anticipated uses for having a platen identificationdevice 60 that is writable, one typical scenario includes loading aplaten with a package (vial or blister pack) and writing to theidentification device 60 a prescription (e.g. pill types, quantities,pack coordinates). In this way, when the preconfigured platen40/44/48/41 (see FIGS. 5, 8A, 8B) is placed in the frame, the dispensingstation 20 reads the prescription from the identification device 60 andproperly dispensed the pills into the blister pack 70.

In some embodiment, the platen 40/44 have bottom arrangements and theplaten 40/44 itself is adapted to receive and accept pills at the targetlocation. In such, the platen 40/44 is filled with the desired pills,then the platen is removed from the pill dispensing station 20 and thepills are then transferred to a target container.

Referring to FIG. 5, a perspective view of a third exemplary platen forholding a vial of the present invention is shown. This particular platen48 is configured to hold one of various pill bottles or vials 50. Theplaten 48 includes an arm 52 that is pivotally attached to the platen 48by a pin 54 or other pivot device as known in the industry. The arm 52is urged closed by a spring 56, thereby holding the bottle or vial 50against the platen 48. As shown the arm 52 holds vials 50 of varyingdiameters, shapes and heights.

Also visible in FIG. 5 is an identification device 60. Theidentification device 60 is read by the dispensing station 20 when theplaten 40 is inserted into the dispensing station 20 (as will be shownin subsequent figures). In some embodiments, the identification device60 is an RFID (radio frequency identification device) 60 and thedispensing station 20 includes electronics to read the value/data storedin the RFID 60. In some embodiments, the identification device 60 is abar code 60 and the dispensing station 20 includes a scanner to read thebar code 60 when the platen 40 with the bar code is inserted into thedispensing station 20. In some embodiments, the identification device 60is a magnetic stripe 60 (e.g., as used on credit cards) and thedispensing station 20 includes electronics to read the value/data storedin the magnetic stripe 60. In other embodiments, any other knownidentification device and sensing device known is included here within.As described in FIG. 8A, in some embodiments, the identification device60 is also writable, for example an RFID with writable memory.

Referring to FIG. 6, a perspective view of a pill dispensing stationwith the first platen installed beneath the active dispensing canisteris shown. In this view, the cabinetry, carousel and drive mechanisms areleft out to highlight certain aspects of the present invention. A pillcanister 100 is positioned over a target location (the location to whichpills are dropped from the pill canister 100). In some embodiments, thepill canister has a label 104 to inform the user (e.g., pharmacist) whattype of pill the canister 100 holds.

In some embodiments, a canister identification 160 is present on thebody of the canister (any convenient location on the canister). Theidentification 160 is electronically read by the dispensing station 20to determine which pill type is loaded in individual locations about thedispensing station (e.g., different locations on the carousel). In someembodiments, the identification 160 is a bar code or other opticallyreadable media. In such, an optical reader 162 is used by the dispensingstation to read the bar code 160 and determine the pill type containedin the canister 100. The optical reader 162 is connected to thedispensing station 20 by wires 164. In some embodiments, theidentification is a RFID tag (radio frequency identification tag) 160and the RFID tag 160 is read by a RFID reader/writer 162. The RFIDreader 162 is connected to the dispensing station 20 by wires 164. Insome embodiments having a RFID identification device 160, the RFID tag160 is read-only. In other embodiments having a RFID identificationdevice 160, the RFID tag 160 has some read-only data and some read/writedata. The read/write data is used for various features/functions such aswriting a pill count to the RFID identification 160 before removing thecanister 100 from the dispensing station 20. In this way, an initialpill count is written to the RFID identification 160 when the canister20 is initially filled, then when pills are dispensed, the count isdecremented such that the RFID identification 160 always contains anaccurate count of the pill count within the canister 100. This is usefulwhen there are more pill types than positions in the dispensing stations20 and certain canisters 20 with certain pill types are swapped betweenthe dispensing station 20 and a storage location (not shown).

Also shown in FIG. 6 is a platen 40 for holding blister packs such asthe 4×6 blister pack 70 shown. It should be noted that the platen 40 iscapable of holding a variety of blister pack configurations such as the4×6 blister pack 70 shown as long as the blister spacing is similar tothat of the platen 40 and the total blister locations horizontally andvertically do not exceed the blisters on the platen 40. In such cases, adifferent platen is required having the correct configuration for thedesired blister pack. The platen 40 has a platen identification 60. Theplaten identification 60 is, in some embodiments, an optically scannabledevice (e.g., bar code) and in other embodiments an RFID as previouslydescribed. The platen identification 60 is used by the dispensingstation 20 to determine which platen is present in the dispensingstation 20 as will be shown. As described in FIG. 8A, in someembodiments, the identification device 60 is also writable, for examplean RFID with writable memory.

For completeness, a canister drive motor 102 is shown. The internaloperation of the canister 20 is shown, for example, in the citedreferences as well as other such devices are known in the industry.

Referring to FIG. 7, a perspective view of a pill dispensing device witha platen 40 installed beneath the active dispensing canister 107,showing ten canisters 100/107 adapted to a carousel 105 is shown. Inthis example, ten canisters 100 are mounted housed on a carousel 105 andthe carousel 105 rotates to position the desired canister 107 over thetarget location of the installed platen 40. Any number of canisters100/107 are anticipated as well as other methods known in the industryto select a particular canister 107 and move that canister 107 to thetarget location including, but not limited to, robotic arms, a linearrow of canisters 100/107 movable in one plane (e.g., left and right).Also shown in this example is the platen 40 positioning table 200 whichpositions the platen 40 beneath the target location, moving the platen40 in an X and/or Y direction as needed to fill either vials or blisterpacks. Details of one specific positioning table are described withFIGS. 8A, 8B and 9.

Also, in this example, each canister has a canister identificationdevice 160 and the dispensing machine has a reader 162 for reading thecanister identification device 160 and determining which canister 100 isin each possible position. In some embodiments, the canisteridentification device 160 is a bar code and the reader 162 is a bar codereader. In some embodiments, the canister identification device 160 isan RFID and the reader 162 is a RFID reader.

In some embodiments, the canister identification device 160 is an RFIDwith writable storage and the reader 162 is an RFID reader/writer. Insuch embodiments, various data is written to the RFID by the dispensingstation 20. For example, a quantity field within the read/write dataarea of the RFID is reserved for a quantity of pills present in thecanister 107. When the canister 107 is filled at a filling station, thequantity field in the RFID 160 is set to the number of pills in thecanister 107. During dispensing, the quantity of pills in the canister107 is read from the quantity field of the RFID 160 to determine ifsufficient pills are present in the canister 107. After dispensing aquantity of pills, the new quantity of pills present in the canister 107is written back to the RFID 160 so that, if the canister is moved, etc.,the RFID 160 will contain an accurate count of pills within the canister107.

Referring to FIG. 8A, a plan view of an X-Y positioning table 200 of thepresent invention is shown. Although there are many ways known in theindustry to position a platen 41 beneath a target location such as thosedescribed in the referenced patents and all of which are included herewithin, the X-Y positioning table 200 of FIGS. 8A, 8B and 9 provide aunique, low-profile positioning table. The X-Y positioning table 200includes a stationary base 202 and a frame 250 that is movable in boththe X direction and the Y direction. In the present invention, one ofthe possible platens such as a platen 41 configured to hold a blisterpack 45 having seven compartments 43 is inserted into the frame 250 andthe X-Y positioning table 200 positions the desired compartment 43beneath the target location.

The X-Y positioning table 200 has two positioning drive motors or servomotors 218/238 (see FIG. 9) mounted to the stationary base 202. Each ofthe positioning drive motors or servo motors 218/238 is interfaced todrive gears 210/230. The X drive gear 210 interfaces to an X-planelinear gear 212 and the Y drive gear 230 interfaces to a Y-plane lineargear 232. Rotation of either of the drive gears 210/230 results inlinear movement of the respective linear gear 212/232. The X-planelinear gear 212 is held within an X-direction slot 214 while the Y-planelinear gear 232 is held within a Y-direction slot 234, each slot 214/234maintains directionality and holds the linear gears 212/232 in relationto the drive gears 210/230.

The X-plane linear gear 212 is affixed to an X-plane truck 216. Movementof the X-plane truck 216 in response to rotation of the X-plane lineargear 212 results in movement of the frame 250 in the X direction. TheX-plane truck 216 has bearings 217 that travel within an X-truck trough252 of the frame 250. Likewise, the Y-plane linear gear 232 is affixedto a Y-plane truck 218. Movement of the Y-plane truck 218 in response torotation of the Y-plane linear gear 232 results in movement of the frame250 in the Y direction. The Y-plane truck 218 has bearings 219 thattravel within a Y-truck trough 254 of a frame 250. In this way, as theX-plane linear gear 212 moves in the X direction, the Y-plane truck 218travels within the Y-truck trough 254. As the Y-plane linear gear 232moves the frame 250 in the Y direction, the X-plane truck 216 travelswithin the X-truck trough 252. In this way, the frame 250 moves in boththe X direction and the Y direction with respect to the base table 202responsive to rotation of the X drive gear and rotation of the Y drivegear. Since there is no required overlap of the X-drive and Y-drivemechanisms, the X-Y table of the present invention requires less z-axisthickness.

Although the frame 250 is movable in both the X-axis and the Y-axis, itis anticipated that, for certain platens 40/41/44/48, the frame 250 ismoved in only one of the X-axis and Y-axis, for example, when there is asingle row or column of pill locations, etc.

In some embodiments, each platen [41] includes a platen identification60. In some embodiments, the platen identification 60 is a bar code. Insome embodiments, the platen identification 60 is an RFID. In someembodiments, the platen identification 60 has writable data storage suchas a writeable RFID. In other embodiments, the platen identification 60is any known identification device known in the industry. A platenidentification reader 165 for reading the platen identification 60(e.g., a bar code reader or an RFID reader) is provided within thedispensing station 20. In some embodiments in which the platenidentification 60 has writable data storage (e.g., writeable RFID), theplaten identification reader 165 is adapted to write data to the platenidentification 60.

In embodiments in which the platen identification 60 has writable datastorage (e.g., writeable RFID); information is written to the platenidentification 60 and read/used at a later time. For example, therequest (e.g., pill type, pill quantity, distribution in blister pack,etc.) is written to the platen identification 60 externally to thedispensing station 20 then when the platen [41] is inserted into thedispensing station 20, the request is read from the platenidentification 60. In some embodiments, after filling the request, therequest is then overwritten or cleared by the dispensing station 20 sothe same request is not later duplicated.

Referring to FIG. 8B, a plan view of a second positioning of the X-Ytransport of the present invention is shown. This view shows the frame250 and platen 41 have moved left (X-direction) with respect to theposition of the frame 250 in FIG. 8A. To get to this position, theX-plane drive gear 210 rotated clockwise resulting in the X-plane lineargear 212 moving left (X-direction) within the X-slot 214. As the frame250 and platen 41 move left, the bearings 219 of the Y-truck 218 movewithin the Y trough 254. Note that in FIG. 8B, the platen identification60 is over the reader 165.

Referring to FIG. 9, a side cross-sectional view of the X-Y transport200 of the present invention is shown. In this, the platen 41 is heldwithin the frame 250. The X-drive motor/servo 218 interfaces with theX-drive gear 210 and the X-drive gear 210 meshes with the X-plane lineargear 212. The Y-drive motor/servo 238 is visible. The X-plane lineargear 212 interfaces to the X-plane truck 216 by a post 253. One or morebearings 217 are mounted to the X-plane truck and the bearings areslideably interfaced to the X-truck trough 252 formed in the frame 250.Note that it is preferred that the bearings 217/219 be ball bearings. Insome embodiments, the bearings 217/219 are brass or nylon bearings. Insome embodiments, the bearings 217/219 are a solid, non-rotating objectthat slides down the truck troughs 252/254. In some embodiments, thetruck troughs 252/254 have flat edges 255 while in other embodiments,the truck troughs 252/254 have flared edges or lipped edges to hold thebearings 217/219 within the truck troughs 252/254.

Referring now to FIG. 10, a canister loading station of the presentinvention is shown. The canister loading station 300 has a stand orplatform 302 adapted to securely hold a canister 100. Bulk pills areprovided in a bulk pill container 310. Pills from the bulk pillcontainer 310 are counted and placed into the canister 100. In someembodiments, the canister loading station 300 includes an input devicesuch as a keypad 304 or touch screen (not shown). In some embodiments,the canister loading station 300 includes a display 306. In embodimentshaving a display 306, the canister identification 160 is read by acanister loading station reader 362 and the proper pill type isdisplayed on the display 306. In embodiments having both a display 306and input device 304, the canister identification 160 is read by acanister loading station reader/writer 362 and the proper pill type isdisplayed on the display 306 and, after loading the quantity of pillsinto the canister, the user enters that quantity at the input device 304and the canister loading station reader/writer 362 writes the quantityof pills present in the canister 100 into the canister identification160.

Referring to FIG. 11, a block diagram of the dispensing station of thepresent invention is shown. Information from the canister identifier 160(on a canister 100) is read by the canister identifier reader/writer 162and the information is provided to the main program 400 running on thecontroller 500 (see FIG. 12). In some embodiments in which the canisteridentifier is writable, information such as an updated pill count issent from the main program 400 to the canister identifier reader/writer162 and, the canister identifier reader/writer 162 writes theinformation to the canister identifier 160.

Platen identification information from the platen identifier 60 is readand/or written by the platen identifier I/O 165 and the platenidentification information is provided to the main program 400 runningon the controller 500 (see FIG. 12). In some embodiments, the platenidentification information is used to determine which specific platensoftware program 402 needs to be used/loaded by the main program 402. Insome embodiments, the platen identification information containsparameters that are used by a generic platen software program 402 tocontrol the positioning of the platen 40 during filling operations. Insome embodiments, the platen identification information contains theplaten software program 402 and the platen software program 402 is readfrom the platen identifier 60 and loaded by the main program 402. As anexample of a platen-specific program, if a given platen has one row ofseven blisters, the platen specific program 402 is loaded/run to controlthe X-Y table 200 to place pills in that specific blister package. As anexample of a generic platen program for a platen that has one row ofseven blisters, the generic platen program 402 is provided controlinformation from the platen identification information indicating, forexample, valid positions on the platen where blisters (or vials) arepresent so that the X-Y table 200 is instructed to locate the blisterpackage correctly when dispensing pills. In some embodiments, the platenidentifier 60 is writable. For example, an external device pre-writes apill count to the platen identifier 60 and the pill count is read by theplaten identifier I/O and available to the main program 400. In anotherexample, the number of times that the platen 40/41/44/48 is used isread, incremented, and then written back to the platen identifier 60under control of the Platen I/O 165. The later is used, for example, inbilling for usage or for determining wear rates and life-cycle data forthe platens.

Referring to FIG. 12, a controller of the dispensing station of thepresent invention is shown. The controller 500 is shown for completenessand the device shown is a simplified example of a typicalprocessor-based controller that has a processor 510 and associatedmemory 520 and storage 525. The storage 525 is, for example, Flashmemory, battery-backed SRAM or a hard disk. This is an exemplary systemand any suitable processor, memory and persistent storage can besubstituted including microcontrollers such as the Intel® 80C51,processors such as the Intel® Pentium IV, memory such as SDRAM and DDRand persistent storage such as ROM, EPROM, hard disks, etc. Theoperating program 400, data parameters, etc. are typically stored in thepersistent storage 525 A system bus 530 interfaces the processor toperipheral devices as discussed below.

The controller 500 displays information, alerts, prompts, etc., on adisplay 560. In some embodiments, the display 560 is a graphics display.In some embodiments, the display 560 is a LCD display. In otherembodiments, the display is a numeric display, alpha-numeric display,set of lights or any combination thereof. Operation of the system isinitiated by control inputs 570. In some embodiments, the control inputs570 include a keyboard. In other embodiments, the control 570 includespush buttons, switches, potentiometers and digital potentiometers, etc.

The processor 510 reads and/or reads/writes the platen identification 60through a platen reader input-output port 540 as known in the industry.The canister identification 160 is read and/or written by the processor510 through a canister identification I/O port 550.

The X-Y motors 218/238 of the X-Y table 200 are controlled by an X/Y I/Oport 580 and the carousel rotation motor 584 (or other selectionmechanism motor control) is controlled by the carousel I/O port 582. Thecarousel dispensing motor 102 is controlled by a pill drive I/O port586. In some embodiments (not shown) a pill drop sensor is connected tothe processor 510 for counting the number of pills dropped at the targetlocation.

Referring to FIG. 13, a flow chart of the dispensing station of thepresent invention is shown. This is one possible method of dispensingpills and various other methods and/or orders of steps are anticipated.

The method begins with loading 600 a plurality of canisters 100 onto thecarousel 105 (or other canister selecting mechanism as previouslydescribed). Next, the desired target package (e.g., a specific blisterpack or a vial) is loaded 602 into a platen configured to hold andsupport that type of package and the platen with the target package isloaded 604 into the frame 250 of the pill dispensing station 20 and theplaten identification 60 is read 606 to determine which platen wasloaded. Responsive to the platen identification 60, software specific tofilling that platen is loaded/run 608. Next, the request (e.g., type ofpill, quantity of pills and distribution within the individual blisters)is entered 610 (or prescription scanned at the dispensing stationscanner 18). The canister 107 having the desired pill type is selectedand placed over the target location 612. In some embodiments, thecanister identification 160 is read to assure/determine the propercanister 107 is located over the target location. In some embodiments,the current quantity of pills present in the canister 107 is read 614from the canister identification 160 to assure a sufficient number ofpills are available in the canister 107. The desired pills are dispensedinto the target location 616, moving the X-Y table as per the software402 specific to the particular platen to fill individual blisters asneeded. In embodiments in which the canister identification 160 iswriteable, an updated quantity of pills contained within the canister107 is written 616 to the canister identification 160.

Equivalent elements can be substituted for the ones set forth above suchthat they perform in substantially the same manner in substantially thesame way for achieving substantially the same result.

It is believed that the system and method of the present invention andmany of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoingdescription. It is also believed that it will be apparent that variouschanges may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of thecomponents thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of theinvention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. Theform herein before described being merely exemplary and explanatoryembodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims toencompass and include such changes.

1. A device for dispensing pills, the device comprising: a plurality ofpill canisters, each of the pill canisters containing pills; a pluralityof platens, each of the platens being substantially planar, each of theplurality of platens having a platen identifier, each of the platenshaving pill locations corresponding to one or more specific packagingconfigurations; a selected platen of the platens, the selected platenremovably holds and supports a target container; a frame situatedbeneath the target location, the selected platen is removably andinterchangeably held in the frame and the selected platen moves in bothan X axis and/or a Y axis responsive to movement of the frame moving inboth the X axis and/or the Y axis; a device for communicating with theplaten identifier; and a control, the control accesses the device forcommunicating with platen identifier and the obtains data from theplaten identifier, the control moves the selected platen in the X axisand the Y axis responsive to the data and the control releases a desiredquantity of the pills at a target location into the a target packagethat is held by the selected platen.
 2. The device for dispensing pillsof claim 1, wherein the platen identifier is an RFID.
 3. The device fordispensing pills of claim 1, wherein the platen identifier is a readableand writeable device having writable data storage.
 4. The device fordispensing pills of claim 3, wherein the quantity of pills is writteninto the writable data storage before the platen is placed in the frame.5. The device for dispensing pills of claim 4, wherein the data includesthe quantity of pills.
 6. A method for dispensing pills, the methodcomprising: providing a device for dispensing pills comprising: aplurality of pill canisters, each of the pill canisters containingpills; a plurality of platens, each of the platens being substantiallyplanar, each of the plurality of platens having a platen identifier,each of the platens having pill locations corresponding to one or morespecific packaging configurations; a frame situated beneath the targetlocation, any of the platens is removably and interchangeably held bythe frame and the frame moves in both an X axis and/or a Y axisresponsive to a control; a device for communicating with the platenidentifier, the device interfaced to the control; selecting a firsttarget package; selecting a first platen from the plurality of platens,the first platen configured to hold and support the first targetpackage; placing the first target package into the first platen;inserting the first platen into the frame; the control reading data fromthe platen identifier; using the data, the control moves the frame andfirst platen in the x-axis and the y-axis and the control dispensespills into the first target package in x-axis and y-axis locations asdetermined by the data; removing the first platen from the frame;removing the first target package from the first platen; selecting asecond target package; selecting a second platen from the plurality ofplatens, the second platen configured to hold and support the secondtarget package; placing the second target package into the secondplaten; inserting the second platen into the frame; the control readingdata from the platen identifier of the second platen; using the data,the control moves the frame and second platen in the x-axis and they-axis and the control dispenses pills into the second target package inx-axis and y-axis locations as determined by the data; removing thesecond platen from the frame; removing the second target package fromthe second platen.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the platenidentifier is an RFID.
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein the platenidentifier is readable and writeable.
 9. The method of claim 8, whereinthe data includes a quantity of pills and the steps of using the datafurther comprises using the quantity of pills to dispense the quantityof pills into the first and second target package.
 10. A device fordispensing pills, the device comprising: a plurality of pill canisters,each canister containing a quantity of pills; a controller; a means forselecting a source pill canister from the plurality of pill canisters bydirection of the controller; a means for releasing a desired quantity ofthe pills from the source pill canister by direction of the controller,the desired quantity of the pills released at a target location; aplurality of platens, each platen having a means for identification,each of the platens being substantially planar; an active platenselected from the plurality of platens and held in a frame, the framemoves the active platen in both an X axis and/or a Y axis by directionof the controller and the frame positions the active platen beneath thetarget location, whereas the active platen is removably held by theframe; and a device for interfacing with the means for identification,the device communicatively connected to the controller.
 11. The devicefor dispensing pills of claim 10, wherein the means for identificationis an RFID and the device for reading the means for identification is anRFID reader.
 12. The device for dispensing pills of claim 10, whereinthe means for identification has writeable storage.
 13. The device fordispensing pills of claim 12, wherein the controller reads the quantityof pills from the means for identification.
 14. The device fordispensing pills of claim 13, wherein the quantity of pills is writtento the means for identification before the active platen is held in theframe.